Published on Mar 15, 2013
Inspired by the ideas spawned from Akron/Family, The Acorn, and Animal Collective, this NYC by way of Long Island outfit mixes electronica with rock and lots of interesting percussive moments. Their self-released EP certainly lives up to the 'Wild' portion of their name. The tracks here yield a variety of sounds with polyrhythmic beats, experimental noises, and rich vocal harmonies.
The EP begins with something I've never heard, almost as if a bullfrog's voice was amplified over the sound of flowing water. Soon, multiple voices join in and the floodgates open for the layered melodies and vibrant synth. “Emos Teg” follows and things change drastically; it’s distorted punk rock frenzy with catchy basslines, an explosion of pounding drums and screaming guitars. At the halfway point “Young Wayfarer” moves into prog-rock territory, with bells, chanting, and soaring rock before slowing down into sing-a-long acoustic territory.
By the fourth track, “Creeks,” the 'International' portion of the band's name becomes evident. The whistling, hand clapping, and tribal-spirited rhythms are matched with a gentle falsetto, making things start to really get interesting. “Dreams” keeps things world music-esque, and it begins with a slow, surreal beginning before getting reckless with jungle style romping. The EP closes with “Mayoridad” and again it sounds like an entirely different band. Gentle and sparse, it's a heartfelt song with optimism about love that explores a more folk template, resulting in a finale that wouldn't be out of place at a campfire.
This is truly a band with their own sound, creating an unusual mix of Afrobeat, pop, post-rock and punk and with vocals that range from sweet to intense. They are incredibly skilled for guys barely in their ‘20s, and listening to this eclectic EP, I was reminded of The Shins, Yeasayer, Fleet Foxes, and At The Drive-In. It’s clear that a full album from Wild International could be a game changer.